The Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes Greatness of Lingatraya which is chapter 235 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc. This is the two hundred thirty-fifth chapter of the Prabhasa-kshetra-mahatmya of the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana.
Chapter 235 - Greatness of Liṅgatraya
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
Īśvara said:
1-3. A devotee should visit the three excellent Liṅgas stationed there itself. They are Śatamedha, Sahasramedha and Koṭimedha in due order.
The Śatamedha Liṅga situated on the southern side yields the merit of a hundred Yajñas. Formerly a hundred Yajñas were performed there by Kārtavīrya after installing the great Liṅga that is destructive of all sins.
The Liṅga that is in the middle is well-known as Koṭimedha.
4. After installing Śaṅkara, the great Lord, the benefactor of the worlds there, excellent Makhas (Yajñas) numbering a crore were performed by Brahmā formerly.
5-8. The Liṅga that is on the northern side is named Sahasramedha. It was there that Śakra, the king of Devas, performed a thousand Kratus (Yajñas) after installing the great Liṅga of the primordial deity of all Devas.
If a devotee worships them in accordance with the injunctions with sweet scents and flowers as well as fresh waters with Pañcāmṛta Rasa, he shall attain the stipulated benefit, O fair lady. This is the origin and there are the names of the Liṅgas.
Gift of cows should be made there are by those who wish to derive the benefit of perfect pilgrimage. O fair lady, there are a million Tīrthas there and the three Liṅgas in the middle are destructive of all sins.